Never Gonna Be Alone

Chapter 33----The Storm Strikes

Laten said bye to Tankie promising to tell his father about what happened. Laten unlocked the door to his house, and walked in, feeling relieved when he didn't see his father in the house. he sighed, and plopped down on the couch.

He wished that Tankie was with him. Laten went into the kitchen and pulled out the knife drawer, and found his pocket knife. He took it and closed the drawer, and went up to his room. He sat on the bed and just stared at it.

'This was what I've known. Has it really blinded me? I still feel like I need it. On the other hand, I can't betray Tankie. He wants me to stop. Question is, do I want to stop?'  Laten thought to himself. He still didn't feel like stopping. The blade has been there for him even in the worst of times. 

"So has Tankie. The blade only gives me a release. Which is enough, yet....Tankie gives me peace and he gave me a release, which is the water." Laten mused. He pulled down his sleeves revealing the cuts. Now his cuts were nothing but pale pink lines, or just pale white lines. The pink was where he cut the deepest. He looked at the blade in tears, actually considering  throwing away the blade for Tankie. 

Laten sighed again, putting the blade under the pillow, and laying down, debating on how to tell his father what happened.

While in the mist of his thoughts, he heard his father come through the door. Laten swallowed, now in a long time, found himself worried as to what the outcome will be.  He went into the living room,  where he found his father taking off his shoes on the couch.

Laten shifted. "Um...dad?"

Chuck looked at his son. "Hey, Laten. How was school?"

Laten kept his eyes glued to the floor. "It was okay. Actually I need to talk to you about something."

Chuck saw the look on his son's face and could tell it was important. The look his son had, told him that this -whatever it was- didn't happen everyday, and that now would  be a good time to listen. Then again, he should be listening to his son, no matter what. "Sit down. You can tell me anything."

Laten didn't feel like sitting down. It would just make him more nervous. "Um...about Andrew, he's been a little too nice to me."

Chuck looked confused. "What do you mean? He's just trying to gain your trust. He told me that you've opened up to him a little bit. I know you don't like him but-"

"But nothing, Dad. He's been a bit touchy." Laten told him. "And that's a lie actually. I've never really told him anything that he could use."

Chuck was now more then confused. "What do you mean by touchy?"

Laten sighed, trying to find the words. "He..always moves very close to me, every time I move away from him. He dropped his arm around my shoulder, and he touched my knee, saying stuff like, Why don't I trust him."

Chuck sat in silence for a moment. 'That's weird. I've known Andrew for quiet sometime and I ran a background check, there's no way.' 

"Is it possible that you're taking it the wrong way?" Chuck asked very carefully.

Laten shook his head. "He..leered towards me when I told him to get out. It was..well, I don't know exactly how to put it, but I'm not stupid."

Chuck was in shock. Why the hell would Andrew do that? Andrew was a trusted friend. Surely, he wouldn't have assigned him to his own son had he known he was going to do...this? 

"I'll talk to him." Was all Chuck could manage to say before he could be in tears. His son only nodded, as he went into his room. Chuck leaned back.

'What the hell is going on?' Were Chuck's only thoughts as he grabbed his cell phone and he dialed Andrew's cell phone.

'BEEP....BEEP....BEEP-'

Andrew answered the phone. "Hello Chuck." He greeted with that accent of his.

"Yeah. Hi, we need to talk." Chuck said.

Andrew's voice seemed hesitant over the phone. "Uh..sure. What about?"

"I think you know."

"Okay. Want me to come over to your place? How's Laten doing?" Andrew asked.

Chuck's eyes narrowed. "He told me a few interesting things about you. Like I said, we need to talk."

"Alright. Like I said, would you like me to come over?" Andrew repeated.

Chuck thought about it for a minute. He didn't really think that meeting in his house was really a good idea. Laten was still up, and Chuck didn't want Laten or Andrew talking to each other until this was settled. Even if it was just in the living room, Laten could easily eavesdrop. He also didn't really feel like going to Andrew's place, so as to play it safe. So where to?

"Chuck?" Andrew called.

"No. Let's meet somewhere." Chuck offered.

"Okay um...bar maybe? Alex's Outter Bar maybe?" Andrew asked.

Chuck checked the time on his watch. "Sure. Meet me there in...hmmm....I'd say about twenty minutes."

Andrew agreed and Chuck hung up the phone. He went to grab his jacket and keys. Chuck sighed. He was too tired for things to happen. Then again, things were already happening. He locked the door on his way out. It wasn't even an hour before he got off of work. 

Life was sure throwing a lot of hell to him.

Chuck got in his car, and started up the vehicle, dialing his cell to make another call.

'BEEP...BEEP-'

Ryan answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey Ryan. So...maybe..God I'm hoping not, but you may be right about this guy. I pray to God you're not. I hope you're wrong as hell."

Ryan could hear the shake in Chuck's voice. "What are you talking about?"

Chuck rolled his eyes, and backed up out of the driveway. "Laten just told me some interesting things about Andrew. Said that he's been a bit too touchy-feel with him." He explained. 

Ryan stopped what he was doing on the computer, still in the school. "Meaning?"

Chuck sighed. "I don't know, but that's what I'm going to find out. Laten was pretty shaken about it when he told me. For Laten to be worried about something, then you know something's up."

Ryan sighed too. "Just be careful, Chuck. Make sure you're not going to meet him in a place where you guys are alone."

Chuck rolled his eyes, and started driving. "I'm not stupid, Ryan. We're going to meet up in a bar. Plenty of people in case he decides that he wants to throw the first punch."

"Alright. Tell me how it goes. Pray that I don't find him." Ryan warned.

Chuck hung up the phone.

'Better yet, pray that I don't do anything rash.' Chuck thought.